Posts Tagged ‘Albany Engineered Composites’

Dignitaries from New Hampshire and France took part in this morning’s ribbon cutting at Safran’s new manufacturing plant in Rochester.

This afternoon’s ribbon cutting in Rochester was so much more than the opening of a new manufacturing plant, where Safran and Albany International Corp. have co-located to produce composite parts for the US and French governments.

“This is a significant milestone, not only for our two companies, but for our customers and partners in the aerospace industry and for the city of Rochester and the state of New Hampshire,” said Joseph Morone, president and CEO of Albany International. “We are opening an identical sister plant in Commercy, France and this is a first of its kind in the aerospace industry. The manufacturing technology and the product being produced with that technology are new to the world …”

New to the world … right here in New Hampshire.

“What a great day for Rochester and New Hampshire,” said Gov. Maggie Hassan. “This is a shining example of the kind of innovative business that has New Hampshire as well-positioned as any state to lead the country in economic growth.”

Rochester Mayor TJ Jean called the grand opening of the plant a celebration “of the power of partnerships,” between the two companies, between the local, state and federal officials who made sure the resources would be available, and “the community college system, which will help train our workforce.”

As manufacturing ramps up in this new plant, hundreds of more jobs will be added to 130 already in place. They will work to produce 3D woven composite parts using RTM technology for aircraft engines parts.”Our presence in Rochester reflects our commitment to this state and the US,” said Jean-Paul Herteman, chairman and CEO of Safran. “Our aim is to continue to expand our position and to contribute to the development of the aerospace and security markets as an American company, to ensure optimum service for our civil and military customers here.”

More than an opening of a new manufacturing plant, today’s event clears New Hampshire’s aerospace and defense industries for take-off.

Between 5 and 7 pm, Great Bay Community College will celebrate its new Advanced Technology & Academic Center (better known as ATAC), which is located at the Lilac Mall. More than a education center, it is going to help put the Seacoast on a flight path to success, as the area becomes known as an emerging composites region.

The ATAC is the largest single project under the statewide Advanced Manufacturing Partnership in Education initiative (AMPedNH), formed by the Community College System of New Hampshire under the federal TAACCCT-NH grant. AMPed NH is sponsored by a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration.

Great Bay’s advanced composites manufacturing curriculum at the ATAC was developed to fit the needs of area manufacturers — among those, Albany Engineered Composites and Safran Aerospace Composites. These two companies are co-locating in a new manufacturing plant at the Granite State Business Park. The plant, set to open in a couple of months, is being built by Safran and is expected to add about 500 jobs to the local market. Representatives of both companies will be available to talk about the advanced composites manufacturing industry and opportunities within the region.

“This center is a wonderful educational resource for anyone interested in what Great Bay has to offer,” said college President Will Arvelo. “Now residents of Strafford County and beyond can conveniently take a course at Rochester – whether it be a general education or liberal arts course or something from a specific field – and those seeking training opportunities in advanced composites manufacturing now have a state-of-the art facility practically in their backyard.”

Gov. Maggie Hassan will attend, as well as other officials. If you attend, you can enter to win free tuition for one year – a value of up to $5,000. Representatives from the College Admissions, Financial Aid and WorkReady NH can answer your questions.

CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch and the Executive Council on Wednesday approved a $4 million Business Finance Authority loan to complete a major economic development agreement between the State, Safran USA, and the City of Rochester.

The agreement will enable the construction of a previously announced 275,000 square-foot facility, in which Safran USA and Albany Engineered Composites (AEC) will be co-located. The facility will employ approximately 400 workers. The State, through the Department of Resources and Economic Development, worked with Albany, Safran USA and the City of Rochester to ensure an agreement could be reached.

“We have been working closely with Safran USA and Albany to see the project through to completion. Today’s news is a major economic development win for Rochester and the entire state of New Hampshire, and will result in the creation of hundreds of jobs,” Gov. Lynch said.

As part of the effort to recruit the new facility, the state has also partnered with Great Bay Community College to create a new composite manufacturing curriculum to train workers to fill the new jobs.

“Safran USA and Albany could have located their new facilities anywhere in the country, but they chose New Hampshire because they recognize that we have a strong workforce and a winning economic strategy. We worked intensely with the companies over the past several years to make the construction of this new plant, and the hundreds of jobs that come with it, a reality,” Gov. Lynch said.

“I want to thank (DRED) Commissioner George Bald and his staff, particularly state business recruiter Cindy Harrington, as well as New Hampshire’s Business Finance Authority, under the leadership for Jack Donovan, for getting us to where we are today. I also want to thank Mayor T.J. Jean and Rochester city officials for their work and commitment to this project,” Gov. Lynch said.

“Finally, I want to thank Albany International’s President and CEO Joseph Morone and Safran USA leadership for their commitment to New Hampshire and for working cooperatively to move this critical project forward.”

“This agreement, and the manufacturing plant and new jobs that will result from it, is a reflection of not only the strength of the relationship between the State of New Hampshire, the City of Rochester, Albany International and Safran USA, but also of how tightly our futures are connected. The efforts of Governor John Lynch and his team in this process cannot be overstated, and the new plant and new jobs that will be created are the direct result of his efforts on behalf of State of New Hampshire,” said Albany President and CEO Joseph Morone.

The new facility will manufacture composite engine components.

“We are very pleased to launch the construction of a manufacturing plant in Rochester, where the Safran group and AEC will combine their resources in order to produce advanced composite parts for the LEAP aircraft engines developed by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Safran and GE,” said Peter Lengyel, President and CEO of Safran USA, Washington D.C. Operations.

Albany Engineered Composites is a subsidiary of Albany International, Corp., which employs about 225 workers at its existing Rochester facility. Last year, the company relocated its corporate headquarters from New York to Rochester.

“The City of Rochester is honored to be selected by Safran USA and Albany Engineered Composites to host their new world-class advanced manufacturing facility. This investment demonstrates Rochester’s commitment to attracting and securing sustainable industrial development and providing valuable jobs to our local economy,” said Rochester Mayor T.J. Jean. “Today’s announcement is a milestone for Rochester as we emerge from these difficult economic times.”

“This is a great day for Rochester and for the state of New Hampshire as a whole,” said Commissioner George Bald. “We thank Safran USA for making the decision to locate their facility in New Hampshire and commend the City of Rochester for its hard work in bringing in a quality company that will create new jobs and add to the economic vitality of our state.”

Construction of the new plant, near the existing Albany facility, will begin in the spring of 2012.

Governor John Lynch today joined state and Rochester city officials in announcing the creation of 500 new jobs in the city over the next several years.

Governor Lynch made the announcement at Albany Engineered Composites, an aerospace composites manufacturer and subsidiary of Albany International, which employs about 225 workers at its existing Rochester facility.

After working directly with the state over the last two years, Albany has decided to construct a new plant next to the existing facility in Rochester, which will directly result in 300 new jobs.

Anticipated additional investment in Albany’s existing operations, in addition to its new facility, is expected to create a total of about 500 jobs in the area over the next several years.

“As Governor, my top priority is getting people back to work today and investing in our workers so New Hampshire can attract companies and compete for good jobs. This major announcement today is a direct result of our hard work,” Governor Lynch said.

“Albany could have chosen to locate this new facility elsewhere, but they recognized that we have a winning economic strategy in place here in New Hampshire. We worked intensively with the company over the past two years to bring this new plant and hundreds of jobs to Rochester,” Governor Lynch said.

The company also announced today it was relocating its corporate headquarters from New York to New Hampshire.

“These two announcements reflect the growing importance of AEC to Albany International’s future. It also reflects the strength of the partnership that we have forged with the city of Rochester and the state of New Hampshire,” said Joseph Morone, Albany’s President and CEO. “We are especially appreciative of the efforts of Governor John Lynch and his administration. The new jobs that our new plant will create are the direct result of his efforts on behalf of state of New Hampshire.”

The State, through the Community College System and Employment Security, has committed to working with Albany to provide job training and other services to help find the workers for these new highly skilled jobs.

“The new facility will employ cutting edge technology and techniques and we will make sure our workers are ready. That’s what we do so well in New Hampshire,” Governor Lynch said. “Through our Job Training Fund, we have provided training to more than 7,000 workers from hundreds of companies over the last three years. Having the ability to train and retrain a skilled workforce is one of the reasons Albany has chosen New Hampshire.”

Employment at the Rochester location, which has grown by 23 percent over the past two years and is now at 225, is expected to increase by the later part of the decade to approximately 700, making it the company’s largest global manufacturing operation.

“Rochester is proud to be chosen as Albany’s corporate headquarters and as the location for its new facility and expanded workforce. We have supported their growth in the past and continue that commitment to advanced technology and manufacturing,” said Rochester Mayor T.J. Jean. “We sincerely thank the State of New Hampshire, Rochester’s economic development team and the leadership of the City Council for encouraging and supporting this opportunity.”

“This is great news for the City of Rochester and for the region as a whole,” said Department of Resources & Economic Development Commissioner George Bald. “Job creation is the key to successful and thriving communities and we’re pleased that Albany Engineering Composites is building upon its investment in New Hampshire. Albany is a top-notch company and has created a center of excellence in the world of composites. We are indeed fortunate they are located in our state.”

“As we emerge from this recession, my focus has been getting people back to work now and making sure New Hampshire is positioned to continue to lead the nation’s economy in the future. This exciting announcement helps further those goals. It is going to help put people back to work. In addition to the hundreds of new skilled manufacturing jobs, there will be many men and women in the construction industry building this new plant and this project will also expand the tax base for the city,” Governor Lynch said.

“This is a great day for the State of New Hampshire,” Governor Lynch said.